The Plaza Cinema, in Crosby, which needed to replace its dated platter reel system by the end of the year, has raised enough cash to convert to new digital equipment. The popular venue needed £70,000 to upgrade to the digital equipment or it would close.

Today the venue’s chairwoman of trustees, Jan Dunn, said she was “relieved” the target had been reached. She said: “I’m really excited now because it has been a major worry for us.”

The cinema will have the new technology installed in time for the new Batman movie in July.